[04] British lawmakers express concern about the security risks posed
by Turkey's accession to the EU

The main issue in today's Turkish Cypriot press is the ceremonies
held yesterday in the occupied area on the occasions of the "1 August
communal resistance day", "the conquest of Cyprus by the Ottomans" and
the establishment of the "Cyprus Turkish security forces". The message
written by the Commander of the "security forces" to Major General Mehmet
Daysal in the special book for the ceremonies that "their most holy duty
is to keep alive the TRNC", the statement by YKP on the "regulation"
of green and white "identity cards", the visit of self-styled minister
of internal affairs Cavusoglu to Ankara, the plans for a new sports club
in occupied Karpassia and other domestic issues are covered also today.

Main issue in today's Turkish newspapers is the meeting of Turkey's
Supreme Military Council (YAS) under the chairmanship of Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Also, the visit of Davutoglu to Norway in order to
attend the funeral of the Turkish girl killed in the recent massacre,
the return of Kemal Burkay to Turkey, a Kurdish politician and poet
living in exile and his meeting with Bagis. In addition, reports that the
Turkish Parliament will start debating the new Constitution in October,
and other domestic issues are covered in today's Turkish press.

Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (02.08.11) reports that self-styled minister
of internal affairs and local administration Naz1m Cavusoglu flies this
morning to Ankara to have separate meetings, first, with the Speaker
of the Turkish Parliament Cemil Cicek and later with the Deputy Prime
Minister and State Minister responsible for Cyprus affairs Besir Atalay.

The paper reports that after completing his contacts, Cavusoglu will
fly back to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus tonight.

On the same issue, columnist Cenk Mutluyakali, writing in Turkish Cypriot
daily Yeni Duzen (02.08.11), comments on Cavusoglu's visit to Ankara as
follows: "minister of internal affairs Cavusoglu goes to Ankara!... Would
he ask you [Tr. Nt.: Turkish Cypriots] on the issue of green and white
identity card."

[02] YKP said that the implementation of green and white "identity card"
will not solve the problem with the illegal workers

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (02.08.11) reports that Murat Kanatli,
secretary of the New Cyprus Party's (YKP) administrative committee,
evaluating the "regulation" of green and white "identity cards", said that
the implementation of this "regulation" will not solve the problem with
the illegal workers. He added that this new initiative will accelerate
the annihilation of the Turkish Cypriots.

Referring to the ongoing Cyprus talks, Kanatli also said that this
"regulation" will influence negatively the efforts for a Cyprus
settlement.

Turkish daily Vatan (31.07.11, online) reports that Turkey's Galatasaray
football club took the first steps for the realization of a new
project. Members of the administration board headed by Emir Sarigul
visited the occupied area and met with the so-called minister of tourism,
environment and culture Kemal Durust.

Sarigul announced that the breakaway regime has "allocated" land of
100 donum in occupied Karpassia and wanted to thank Eroglu, Kucuk,
Durust and the whole "council of ministers" for their support. He also
said that this big complex would include everything they might wish for
and that football teams from the whole world will be able to conduct
training camps in the most modern way. "This exemplary sports complex,
which will include a resort hotel, will be suitable year round due to
the climate of Cyprus and will contribute to the development of the
daughterland and make Cyprus a centre of attraction," said Sarigul.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (02.07.11) publishes a news
report that self-styled minister of foreign affairs Huseyin Ozgurgun,
participating in a ceremony in Galatasaray Lyceum said that they
have "allocated" 150 donums upon the football club's request months
before. However, the protocol has not been signed and said that they
will invite the chairman of the club to the "TRNC" in order to sign
the protocol.

[04] British lawmakers express concern about the security risks posed
by Turkey's accession to the EU

Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News reports (01.08.11, online) that a
group of U.K. parliamentarians has warned in a report that Turkey's
accession to the European Union would pose serious risks to the security
of the bloc's external border and make member states more vulnerable to
organized crime. However, they said membership should bring long-term
benefits to the bloc.

U.K. Parliament's Home Affairs Committee warned that if Turkey joined
the EU, the Union's borders would extend to Syria, Iran and Iraq, "which
pose a considerable security risk, including as a source of large numbers
of irregular migrants". It also said that Turkish organized crime groups
involved in drug trafficking or illegal immigration posed a "substantial
threat" to the EU's internal security.

The report said that Brussels must apply "a very stringent set of
conditions relating to border security, all of which must be clearly
and objectively demonstrate that these must be met by Turkey prior
to accession".

Committee chairman Keith Vaz said that cooperation between enforcement
agencies from the EU, Turkey and Greece -- the border between Greece
and Turkey is the main entry point for illegal immigrants to the EU --
must improve. "I am concerned that, if action is not taken now, it will
become even easier for migrants from countries such as Afghanistan and
Iran to enter the EU once Turkey is a member," he said.

The report also urged caution in allowing Turkish citizens full freedom
of movement on membership, saying it may be better to impose limits
such as those placed on Bulgaria and Romanian nationals following their
accession. But it stressed that in the long-term, the security risks
will be "considerably outweighed by the potential benefits" of Turkish
membership, which would allow for increased cooperation within EU law
enforcement agencies.

It also warned that the willingness of the Turkish authorities to
tackle illegal immigration and drug trafficking may disappear if it
thinks EU membership is not achievable. "The Turkish authorities may
lose their incentive to prioritize tackling criminality which affects
EU member states to a far greater extent than their own population,"
the report said.

Turkish daily Today's Zaman (01.08.11) reports that a funeral ceremony
was held for Gizem Dogan on Monday in Trondheim. Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu and Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag were also present
during the ceremony. The two politicians delivered their condolences to
Dogan's family and attended the funeral prayer.

Speaking during the funeral, Davutoglu appealed to Norwegians and
underscored that Norway is a precious friend of Turkey as the two
countries have been cooperating on many humanitarian issues such as the
Palestinians' case. "With the memory of Gizem, there will be a stronger
brotherhood between the peoples of Norway and Turkey and this will last
forever," he said. He also advised Turks living in Norway to boost ties
with their Norwegian neighbours after this incident.

In Oslo, in a joint news conference late on Monday with his Norwegian
counterpart Jonas Gahr Store, Davutoglu said he came to Norway to display
solidarity, noting that terrorism has no religion or race. He had talks
with Store and both Foreign Ministers discussed recent developments in
the Middle East, Afghanistan and Libya along with bilateral relations.

Under the above title, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News reports that a
study by Turkey's Interbank Card Centre (BKM) shows that transactions
by foreign cards have increased by 35% in the first half of the
year. Tourists from Arab countries who prefer Turkey for their summer
holidays and shopping triggered the increase, according to Soner Canko,
general manager of BMK.

The rise in the total volume of foreign credit card transactions reached
$2.3 billion in the first half of the year, a 35% rise in volume compared
to the same period last year, according to a BKM report.

"A few years ago, the total volume of transactions through foreign credit
cards was really small in Turkey," Canko, told a press meeting in Istanbul
regarding the report. "It has risen thanks to Arab tourists who have
chosen Turkey as a holiday and shopping destination in the region." The
total volume of the transactions reached $1 billion in May and June.

"This shows a trend in foreigners spending in Turkey," Canko said. He
also said that the radical political changes currently occurring in the
Middle East and North Africa played an important role in the recent rise
in the number of Arab tourists visiting Turkey.

The total number of tourists visiting Turkey increased 14.6% in the
first five months of the year compared with January-May last year,
according to official data from the Tourism Ministry. In May, tourists
from Yemen were up 87% from last year, while the rise in tourists from
Saudi Arabia and Iraq was 79.3% and 45.84%, respectively.
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio